CORNING CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Installation Saturday

Installation Dinner ? This Saturday, Jan. 18, is the Corning Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation Dinner at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 1620 Solano St. The dinner is open to all and if you would like to attend, call the Chamber at 824-5550 and we will take your reservation.

The cost is $25 per person or $45 per couple. The no-host reception starts at 6 p.m. and the dinner is 7 p.m., prepared by Lin Lima with a choice of tri-tip, pork or chicken. The new officers will be installed. They are President Ronda Haywood, President Elect Christina Meeds and Treasurer Terry Barbo.

- 50th Anniversary of Vietnam War - Like many slogans, "Freedom is not free" has become overused and the depth of its meaning has become diluted. Our freedom and the freedoms of many people around the world has been hard fought and won by young Americans. These young men and women readily give up the innocence of youth, if not their very lives, so that those at home can complain about the injustice and horrors of war. None know this better than our veterans who fought in the Vietnam War. Few, if any of these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines came home to a hero's welcome but many did come home to boos and jeers, insults, and physical abuse by the very people who enjoyed the freedoms for which these veterans were willing to die.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the United States active military involvement in that war. Corning VFW Post 4218, Ladies Auxiliary and American Legion Post 45 are hosting a Veterans Appreciation dinner and dance to commemorate this occasion and honor those men and women who were willing to go in harm's way to protect and defend the ideals on which this country was based. The proceeds from this dinner will go toward the Vietnam Memorial at the California Veterans Cemetery in Igo.

The dinner and dance will be 5 p.m. to midnight Jan. 25 at the Corning Veterans Memorial Hall. The cost is $15 per person. The Veterans Hall is at 1620 Solano St. in Corning. For further information contact the Veterans Hall at 824-5957 or Roberta Wyman at 824-5609.

Corning Chamber member ? If you are a Corning Chamber member and your club, organization or church is having an event that you would like publicized, send an email to the Chamber at corningchamber@sbcglobal.net with the information, what, when, what time, where and cost, if any and any other details.

We would be happy to include it in this article or in the monthly Chamber Reporter. Call for deadlines, 824-5550.